SCULPTURES, photography, art – Mt Buller has it all – for art lovers a walk on the ‘art side’ is a must.

With school holidays coming up there is more to occupy the kids during the holidays other than skiing or snowboarding.

Art has ecome a large part of the Mt Buller community over the years.

A diverse collection of sculptural pieces are dotted throughout the Mt Buller Village, and are on display year-round, providing an opportunity to view these sculptures in vastly different alpine conditions depending on the seasons.

Over the years Mt Buller has acquired numerous sculptures including pieces owned by the Grollo Family, donations from benefactors, acquisitions through the former Mt Buller Easter Art Show, the Mt Buller Sculpture Award 2013 and the Buller Arts Association. This Association is committed to fostering the Arts on Mt Buller and welcomes input from the community.

And then there are artworks in various buildings around the village also – start at the post office – Alpine Central where huge photos adorn the walks depicting the mountain in winter.

Some of the notable sculptures on a walk around the village include:

EMERGENCE - By Deborah Redwood

Mt Buller Tourist Rd, opposite Village Square: The sculpture references Mt Buller Flora in particular sedges and the Yam Daisy, with their radial formation. The artists practice encompasses sculpture and installation which evoke a sense of play and comment on society’s waste. She has been a finalist in many well-known Australian sculpture shows and has participated in group and solo exhibitions in Australia and overseas.

Look up at the wall of Village Square Plaza and you will see the next sculpture, ‘Optimism’

Optimism - By Benjamin Gilbert

Mt Buller Tourist Road, on Village Square Plaza wall: Benjamin Gilbert is a contemporary sculptor and designer heading the Agency of Sculpture organisation based in Yackandandah, Victoria. When Benjamin was working at the Ice Hotel in Sweden, he became aware that snow crystals begin forming on particles of atmospheric dust. This poetic concept led to the creation of a number of works, one of which is Optimism. Stainless steel is shaped using high pressure water to create this piece. The material responds naturally to the water pressure, creating unexpected forms which were later assembled into this snowflake sculpture. Optimism has been kindly donated to the Mt Buller community by Michael David and family.

The next is ‘Children Playing, Mother & Child’ and is found outside the Alpine Chapel up on Chamois Close.

Children Playing, Mother & Child - By Michael Meszaros - Is a collection of charming bronze sculptures of a mother and her child playing in the snow. They were commissioned by the Grollo family, with the statues of the children sculpted to the likeness of the Grollo children from a family photograph.

Michael Meszaros is also the creative talent behind some of Mt Buller’s other most notable statues including Spirit of the Skier and Mountain Cattleman.

From here, head towards the Mt Buller Village Square via the raised walkway that crosses the road.

Mountain Cattleman: By Michael Meszaros

Village Square: The Mountain Cattleman is a bronze statue that was commissioned by Rino Grollo in 1996. This work is a tribute to the cattlemen and their families who pioneered the High Country.

The Snow Lovers: by Gillie and Marc

Village Square next to the entrance to the Village Square Plaza: ‘The Snow Lovers’ shows Gillie and Marc’s iconic characters, Rabbitwoman and Dogman, in a winter wonderland. Since they met while travelling, adventure and exploring have been a huge inspiration in their work. The artists love exploring in the snow, taking them back to the fun times they had in the snow while living in New York, or to the many adventures Marc had on the slopes in Melbourne, Australia.

On one pair of skis, Rabbitwoman and Dogman zip away, leaping off a massive snow mound. Being on the same pair of skies is perfect for them; Dogman gets his thrill for the slopes while Rabbitwoman can cuddle close to his back to shield herself from the freezing slipstream.

Keep wandering up Athlete's walk where you’ll find numerous more pieces: ‘Beyond Origins’, 'Spirit of the Mountain', 'Voyeur', ‘Survivors’, ‘Distant Conversations’ and 'Ode to Kairos'.

Beyond Origins: By Andrew Rogers

Athlete’s Walk: Spirit of the Mountain: By Anton Costantino

Spirit of the Mountain was awarded the ‘Best in Show Sculpture’ at the 2007 Mt Buller Easter Art Prize and Exhibition. Spirit of the Mountain was created by Anton Costantino as an expression of his love of nature, simple living and celebration of the wonder of life.

Voyeur: By Louis Pratt

Athlete’s Walk: Voyeur explores the act of seeing. It plays with a parallax error by distorting and resolving this quality of sight. The work stands solitarily but contented, looking out into the world. Artist Louis Pratt specially fabricated Voyeur to appear to be of normal human height, inviting the audience to interact with it.

Survivors: By Julia Anderson

Athlete’s Walk: The corrugated strips of moulded stainless steel are like survivors of extreme exposure, survivors of time – their surfaces are reminiscent of the corrugations that water, ice and wind can scour into the earth, and they are reminiscent of bushfire burnt-out corrugated iron, they are also like mini-versions of the corrugations that skiers make when repeatedly skiing over a snow surface. The poles hold aloft the "Survivors" - together they are all exposed, like humankind, driven to survive.

Distant Conversations: By Michael Meszaros

Outside The ABOM, Athlete’s Walk: This bronze artwork represents a dialogue between a mass of human forms. There are two parts to this piece and the figures converse with their counterparts in the corresponding sculpture across the path.